Modular Bridging System

Our bridging system – used by the British Army – provides the most flexible, rapidly deployable military gap crossing solution in the world.

BAE Systems designed and built the Modular Bridging System (delivered to the British Army under the BR90 programme) and has provided continual support since it went into service.

The Modular Bridging System is used by soldiers to rapidly undertake assault crossings and restore vital lifelines and military routes. The all-encompassing design also offers rapid replacement of civilian infrastructure in combat and peacetime disaster relief.

The system is light enough to be transported by air and lifted by helicopter, yet the bridge panels are strong enough to withstand the weight of Main Battle Tanks such as Challenger 2, equivalent to six double decker buses. During its lifetime, each bridging system is designed to withstand typically 10,000 crossings in its worst case load condition, for both tracked and wheeled vehicles and in extreme military environments.

Project Tyro

Our specialised and experienced bridging team is now working on upgrading the system to meet the British Army’s needs to 2040 and beyond, as part of the MOD’s Project Tyro.

The project aims to update or replace the MOD’s bridging system to cope with greater loads and to ensure it remains operationally available and effective until 2040.

BAE Systems won the Assessment Phase in January 2016 and now is preparing its bid for the Demonstration & Manufacture phase of the project.

BAE Systems’ Bridging Capability

The versatile package we offer includes a full range of bridges, as well as launch and support vehicles, which provide gap-crossing capability for both wheeled and tracked vehicles. This is in addition to an ongoing validation programme to achieve a Military Load Classification in excess of 100.

Close Support Bridges

The Close Support Bridge (CSB) System provides a rapidly emplaced battlefield mobility capability for use in direct fire zones. CSB can be launched or recovered from under armour in less than 2 minutes by the Titan armoured bridge laying vehicle. Bridge types include:

No.12 Close Support Bridge

Launched and recovered by Titan in less than 90 seconds

13.5m long, 12m maximum span and up to 28.5m when used in combination

Transportable by Tank Bridge Transporter

No.11 Close Support Bridge

Launched and recovered by Titan in less than 90 seconds

16m long, 14.5m maximum span and up to 34.5m when used in combination

Transportable by Tank Bridge Transporter

No.10 Close Support Bridge

Launched and recovered by Titan in less than two minutes

26m long, 24.5m maximum span and up to 64.5m in combination

Transportable by Tank Bridge Transporter

Combination Bridges

Up to three No. 12, No. 11 or No.10 can be deployed to provide gap crossing for extended gaps

Trestle set available to allow assault bridges to cross deeper wet or dry gaps

General Support Bridges

The General Support Bridge (GSB) system provides the British Army with a mobile tactical support bridge which can be rapidly emplaced to operate successfully within the military environment indirect fire zones. It has been designed and validated to the requirements of the Trilateral Design and Test Code for Military Bridging and Gap Crossing. Bridge types and enhancement kits include:

Single Span General Support Bridge

Launched by ABLE in less than 30 minutes at night by a crew of 10

30m maximum span

Supported by two Bridging Vehicle load carrying vehicles

Long Span Equipment

Enhancement kit to the General Support Bridge

Enables bridges up to 56m to be constructed – UK Launch Limit 44m

Two Span Equipment

Enhancement kit to the General Support Bridge

Enables two-span bridges to be constructed with fixed or floating piers using Pontoons

Launch and support vehicles

The Modular Bridging System is deployed, recovered and fully supported by a range of vehicles, all designed and built by BAE Systems and its legacy companies:

Automotive Bridge Launching Equipment (ABLE)

Tank Bridge Transporter (TBT)

Bridging Vehicle (BV)

Titan armoured bridge launcher

Bridge Test Facility

BAE Systems operates a specialised Bridge Test Facility at our Telford site which allows us to perform both dynamic and static tests on our bridges. This facility is the only one of its kind in Europe and one of only two worldwide.

This facility gives us the evidence we need to underwrite the safety and performance of our bridge panels as part of the UK MOD’s Project Tyro, which seeks to upgrade their bridging system to meet the customer’s needs.

Military Bridging for the future

In designing a new bridge for the British Army, we have used new technology that actively monitors the fatigue life of the bridge – this lets soldiers see quickly and easily how much life is left in the bridge so gives them complete peace of mind in its safety and effectiveness. We have also used new techniques to offer more protection for the bridge panels against harsh environmental conditions. We will continue to evolve our bridging systems to ensure they remain the most flexible and practical gap crossing capability available.